M.S. in Statistics - Program Guidelines

The Master of Science degree in statistics at Montana State University gives students a solid background in the theory of statistics and hands-on practice in the application of statistics to real problems. Students in this program prepare either for further graduate work or for academic, industrial, business, or government employment. Upon entrance, each student meets with the department's Graduate Program Committee to discuss career objectives and first year course work. During the second semester in the program each student forms a Graduate Committee and, with that committee, builds an outline of the courses to be taken. The prerequisites for the master's degree program in statistics consist of the following semester courses or their equivalent: Multivariable Calculus (MATH 224), Linear Algebra (MATH 333 or MATH 441), Probability (STAT 421), and Mathematical Statistics (STAT 422). Students who have not completed these courses may still enter the master's program. It is suggested that these courses then be taken after enrolling.

Either Plan A (thesis and 20 credits of course work) or Plan B (30 credits of course work) can be chosen. In either case, all courses on a graduate program must be numbered 400 or higher, and STAT courses must be numbered 410 or higher. The specific program of study depends on the student's previous training and experience. Regardless of the plan chosen, (i) at least half of the required non-thesis credits must be STAT courses, (ii) at least two-thirds of the required non-thesis credits must be numbered 500 or higher, and (iii) the following 14 semester core course credits are required:

Statistics M.S. Required Courses (15 semester credits)

• STAT 501-502 Intermediate Math Stat - 6 credits (prerequisite: STAT 422)
• STAT 505-506 Linear Stat Models - 6 credits (prerequisites: MATH 333, STAT 422, & STAT 412)
• STAT 510 Statistical Consulting - 2 credits
• STAT 575 Research Paper or STAT 590 Thesis - 1 credit

Additional requirements

1. The M.S. degree requires completion of either a thesis or a writing project.
   • Thesis (Plan A): The Plan A thesis typically requires 450-500 hours of work. The student must register for at least 10 thesis credits (STAT 590) in addition to the required 20 credits of course work. The student must give an oral defense of his/her thesis.
   • Writing Project (Plan B): The Plan B writing project typically requires at least 90 hours of work, for which the student earns 1 or 2 credits of STAT 575. With permission from the student's committee, additional credits of STAT 575 (no more than 4 total) may be earned. The student must give a seminar on the writing project before graduating.
2. For either Plan A or Plan B, the student must pass a comprehensive examination.

The M.S. comprehensive exam is given in January before classes begin (the specific date will be determined by the department) and consists of two segments. First a four-hour written exam covering Stat 501, 502 and 505 plus two elective Stat courses (see below), and second a 24 hour take home over Stat 506. Because the exam is given in January, one of the core courses typically has not yet been taken, so that course will be omitted from the exam. Students must earn a B or better in the core course not included in the exam.

The exam is graded as PhD pass, M.S. pass, or fail. Examinees will be informed of the results within three working days of taking the exam.

1. M.S. Core Courses for the M.S. Comprehensive Exam (12 semester credits)
   • STAT 501-502 Intermediate Probability & Statistics
   • STAT 505-506 Linear Models and Advanced Regression
2. Elective Courses for the M.S. Comprehensive Exam (6 semester credits from Stat 446, Stat 431, or 500 level electives) At the discretion of the committee, an elective exam could be a take home exam.

Copies of old exams are available only to people on math department computers.